Rock Mechanics Applications

The course covers the fundamentals of rock mechanics and rock engineering. It deals with the following:

• characterisation and laboratory and in situ testing for the determination of properties of intact rock, discontinuities in rock, and discontinuous rock masses

• mechanical behaviour of rock masses, including dynamic, time-dependent, and post peak behaviour.

• basic principles of flow through discontinuities and discontinuous rock masses.

• weathering and susceptibility to weathering of rock masses.

• principle of excavation methods. Excavatability, wear and performance of cutting tools. Influence of blasting and other vibrations. Influence of stress and stress changes.

• principle of support methods.

• rock mass classification systems. Possibilities for analytical and numerical modelling of discontinuous rock masses.

• application of principles of rock mass excavation and support to slopes, tunnel, dam, foundation, rock dredging or sea water breaker design.

• monitoring, analysis, prediction and mitigation of subsidence due to solid removal.

• application of engineering tools such as Total Geological Approach and function (system) analysis to projects case histories.